Method and medium for managing data

Abstract

The present invention allows a user to create an application to manage a database without writing code. The present invention includes a method of creating a database, creating configuration data relating to the data in the database and generating a user interface based on the configuration data to allow a user to search, select or edit the data. The configuration data includes defining fields, search parameters, page layout and relationships between data. A component reads the configuration data to generate the interface elements and performs the actions executed by the user through the interface.

1 . A method for managing data, said method comprising: 
 creating a database comprising a plurality of tables, each table comprising a plurality of records having fields for storing data;    creating configuration data for at least one table; and    generating, based on the configuration data, at least one user interface to search, select or edit the plurality of records of the table.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating at least one user interface comprises generating a search page, a select page and a edit page.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 using at least one of the search page, the select page or the edit page to search, select or edit the plurality of records of the table.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein using at least one of the search page, the select page or the edit page comprises using the edit page to select a child table related to the table.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein creating configuration data comprises 
 generating a plurality of interfaces;    selecting at least one interface; and    setting at least one parameter on the selected interface.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the at least one parameter relates to selecting a field to be searched by the user interface.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the at least one parameter relates to selecting a field to be populated by a list.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the at least one parameter relates to defining a form of the user interface.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the as least one parameter relates to establishing a relationship between the table and at least one child table.  
   
   
       10 . A medium containing instructions to cause an apparatus to implement a method for managing data, said method comprising: 
 creating a database comprising a plurality of tables, each table comprising a plurality of records having fields for storing data;    creating configuration data for at least one table; and    generating, based on the configuration data, a user interface to search, select or edit the plurality of records of the table.